We Are So Ready for These Eight Spring Blooms

Crocuses to rhodies, life-affirming spring gorgeousness is about to own this town. Here's what to watch for, and when.

Deluges of snow, then ice, then cold, then more snow, and now rainstorms: an unseasonable, unreasonable winter has Portlanders like me so ready for spring flowers. This time last year, our city saw record warm temperatures—and a bevy of early blossoms—all across the Portland area, making for a spectacular kick-out-the-door to winter.

So, where are this year's blooms? Sadly, a prognosticating rodent on the East Coast declared another six weeks of winter. Martin Nicholson, curator of the Hoyt Arboretum, backs up the little critter. “The long-range forecasts I’ve seen are calling for a pretty wet March," he says, "which means we're not going to see temperatures warm enough to bring us forward into a more normal schedule.”

Nicholson estimates that whole bloomin' schedule may be three weeks to a month behind a regular year. (Unless, say, March instead brings a serious warm front.)

In this slideshow, we offer a rough guide to when eight popular flowering plants could pop—based on information from Nicholson as well as resident specialists at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and the bulb bloom experts at the Wooden Shoe (purveyors of the Tulip Festival).

Rhododendrons

Normal bloom season: January to midsummerWhen to expect them this year: Late February to midsummer

Trillium

Normal bloom cycle: February to JuneWhen to expect them this year: March to June

Crocuses

Normal bloom cycle: February to MarchWhen to expect them this year: Early March to April

Daffodils

Normal bloom cycle: March to AprilWhen to expect them this year: Mid-March to the end of April

Tulips

Normal bloom cycle: March to late May depending on the weatherWhen to expect them this year: End of March to late May

Cherry trees

Normal bloom cycle: March to AprilWhen to expect them this year: End of March to May

Magnolias

Normal Bloom cycle: March and AprilWhen to expect blooms this year: End of March to April

Dogwood

Normal bloom cycle: April to MayWhen to expect them this year: April to May